C-API Instrumentation for Hdl Models

1. A method for monitoring testcase execution processing of a hardware description language (HDL) model using a run time executive (RTX) that controls testcase execution during simulation testing of said HDL model, wherein said simulation testing includes tracking simulation events using a specified HDL-based event naming convention, said method comprising: calling a set name application program interface (API) entry point that associates an RTX name of said RTX with testcase events detected by non-HDL program instructions during testcase execution of said HDL model; and calling a create event API entry point that generates a testcase event object corresponding to one of said testcase events detected by non-HDL program instructions, said create event API entry point including an event identifier that specifies a name for the generated testcase event object consistent with said specified HDL-based event naming convention.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, responsive to executing a testcase simulation cycle, retrieving signals from said HDL model into an instrumentation code block, wherein said instrumentation code block includes program instructions for processing said retrieved signals to detect whether a testcase event corresponding to the generated testcase event object has occurred during said testcase simulation cycle.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising, responsive to detecting an occurrence of said testcase event, calling a trigger event API entry point to record the occurrence of said testcase event.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said simulation control program RTX controls testcase execution processing of an HDL model simulator that receives said HDL model as input, said method further comprising, in response to said calling said create event API entry point, generating said testcase event object within said HDL model simulator.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said generating a testcase event object within said HDL model simulator further comprises: generating a disable flag that disables said testcase event object in response to a testcase event disable signal set by said RTX; and generating an event result field for storing results of the testcase event corresponding to said testcase event object.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said RTX controls testcase execution processing of an HDL model simulator that takes said HDL model as input, said method further comprising, in response to calling said create event API entry point, generating an event list data structure within said HDL model simulator, wherein said event list data structure lists the event identifiers for each of a plurality of testcase events.

7. A system for monitoring testcase execution processing of a hardware description language (HDL) model using a run time executive (RTX) that controls testcase execution during simulation testing of said HDL model, wherein said simulation testing includes tracking simulation events using a specified HDL-based event naming convention, said system comprising: processing means for calling a set name application program interface (API) entry point that associates an RTX name of said RTX with testcase events detected by non-HDL program instructions during testcase execution of said HDL model; and processing means for calling a create event API entry point that generates a testcase event object corresponding to one of said testcase events detected by non-HDL program instructions, said create event API entry point including an event identifier that specifies a name for the generated testcase event object consistent with said specified HDL-based event naming convention.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising, processing means responsive to executing a testcase simulation cycle, for retrieving signals from said HDL model into an instrumentation code block, wherein said instrumentation code block includes program instructions for processing said retrieved signals to detect whether a testcase event corresponding to the generated testcase event object has occurred during said testcase simulation cycle.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising, processing means responsive to detecting an occurrence of said testcase event, for calling a trigger event API entry point to record the occurrence of said testcase event.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein said RTX controls testcase execution processing of an HDL model simulator that receives said HDL model as input, said system further comprising, processing means responsive to said calling said create event API entry point, for generating said testcase event object within said HDL model simulator.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein said processing means for generating a testcase event object within said HDL model simulator further comprises: processing means for generating a disable flag that disables said testcase event object in response to a testcase event disable signal set by said RTX; and processing means for generating an event result field for storing results of the testcase event corresponding to said testcase event object.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein said RTX controls testcase execution processing of an HDL model simulator that takes said HDL model as input, said system further comprising, processing means responsive to calling said create event API entry point, for generating an event list data structure within said HDL model simulator, wherein said event list data structure lists the event identifiers for each of a plurality of testcase events.

13. A computer-readable medium having encoded thereon computer-executable instructions for monitoring testcase execution processing of a hardware description language (HDL) model using a run time executive (RTX) that controls testcase execution during simulation testing of said HDL model, wherein said simulation testing includes tracking simulation events using a specified HDL-based event naming convention, said computer-executable instructions adapted for performing a method comprising: calling a set name application program interface (API) entry point that associates an RTX name of said RTX with testcase events detected by non-HDL program instructions during testcase execution of said HDL model; and calling a create event API entry point that generates a testcase event object corresponding to one of said testcase events detected by non-HDL program instructions, said create event API entry point including an event identifier that specifies a name for the generated testcase event object consistent with said specified HDL-based event naming convention.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 , said method further comprising, responsive to executing a testcase simulation cycle, retrieving signals from said HDL model into an instrumentation code block, wherein said instrumentation code block includes program instructions for processing said retrieved signals to detect whether a testcase event corresponding to the generated testcase event object has occurred during said testcase simulation cycle.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , said method further comprising, responsive to detecting an occurrence of said testcase event, calling a trigger event API entry point to record the occurrence of said testcase event.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein said RTX controls testcase execution processing of an HDL model simulator that receives said HDL model as input, said method further comprising, responsive to said calling said create event API entry point, generating said testcase event object within said HDL model simulator.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein said for generating a testcase event object within said HDL model simulator further comprises: generating a disable flag that disables said testcase event object in response to a testcase event disable signal set by said RTX; and generating an event result field for storing results of the testcase event corresponding to said testcase event object.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein said RTX controls testcase execution processing of an HDL model simulator that takes said HDL model as input, said method further comprising, responsive to calling said create event API entry point, generating an event list data structure within said HDL model simulator, wherein said event list data structure lists the event identifiers for each of a plurality of testcase events.